RURAL ISSUANCE PROCEDURES.

SEC. 1738. RURAL ISSUANCE PROCEDURES. Section 11(e) (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)) is amended— (1) by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (21); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (22) and inserting a semicolon; (3) by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (23); (4) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (24) and inserting “; and”; and (5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(25) a procedure for designating project areas or parts of project areas that are rural and in which low-income persons face substantial difficulties in obtaining transportation. The State agency shall designate the areas according to procedures approved by the Secretary. In each area so designated, the State agency shall provide for the issuance of coupons by mail to all eligible households in the area, except that any household with mail losses exceeding levels established by the Secretary shall not be entitled to such a mailing and the State agency shall not be required to issue coupons by mail in those localities within such area where the mail loss rates exceed standards set by the Secretary.”.